SIR – I was flabbergasted when I read (Worcester News, May 10) that surgeon Robert Padwick had only been fined £2,000 with £500 costs (peanuts on his salary).

He pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by careless driving. He had been found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a jury at an earlier trial in Hereford Crown Court.

If one exceeds the limit by about 10mph in a 30mph limited area a fine can be imposed.

Yet in this case, driving on the A4103 near Ledbury, Padwick slowed on a bend at 80mph in a 60mph limit. He killed Mrs [Anne] Morris instantly as she drove in the opposite direction. Padwick also had two previous convictions for speeding, albeit not still on his licence.

I remain flabbergasted at the conviction but can only assume he had a first class legal team.

PHIL PEGLER, Worcester